Binder

ABSTRACT

A binder for magazines and the like is extruded from plastic material to include a spine assembly including a main spine strip and at least a bowed inner anchoring strip joined to the spine strip. An outer bowed strip may also be formed opposite the anchoring strip, the outer strip having a window, or outer flanges may be formed along the opposite edges of the anchoring strip, the window or the flanges receiving identification strips. Resilient wire retaining elements are hooked over the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip to secure a magazine or the like within the binder.

United States Patent White 1 May 16, 1972 [54] BINDER 276,727 10/1951 Switzerland ..281/49 1,486,575 5/1967 France ..2s1/29 Inventor: James White, F 01 BQX 5495, Statwn 3,095 1905 Great Britain... ..281/50 B,Greenvil1e,S.C-29606 660,847 11/1951 Great Britain... ...281/47 [22] Filed: Man 16, 1970 158,276 4/1905 Germany ..281/50 [21] App]. No.: 19,922

[52] U.S. Cl ..281/46, 281/49, 402/3 [51] Int. Cl. ..B42i 11/02 [58] Field of Search ..28l/29, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50; 402/3 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,735 4/1915 Gilmer ..28l/47 2,544,566 3/1951 Rose ....402/3 UX 3,057,357 10/1962 Duncan ....402/3 UX 2,142,460 1/1939 Schultz ....402/3 UX 2,31 1,641 2/1943 Cornell et a1. ..28 1/50 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,015,952 8/1952 France ..28l/29 Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall Attorney-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby 57 ABSTRACT A binder for magazines and the like is extruded from plastic material to include a spine assembly including a main spine strip and at least a bowed inner anchoring strip joined to the spine strip. An outer bowed strip may also be formed opposite the anchoring strip, the outer strip having a window, or outer flanges may be formed along the opposite edges of the anchoring strip, the window or the flanges receiving identification strips. Resilient wire retaining elements are hooked over the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip to secure a magazine or the like within the binder.

e 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 16 I972 3, 663 O41 M 45 INVENTOR JAMES C.WHI TE BY e/VQWMZ, JlZ/v/M,

BINDER BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A binder according to this invention is characterized by its rugged construction and the capability of being formed by extrusion methods. The spine of the binder derives great strength from a spine strip and an integrally formed anchoring strip which is bowed to form a space between it and the spine strip. The anchoring strip presents upper and lower edges which may receive a plurality of resilient wire retaining members which are hooked over such edges. An outer bowed strip may be provided integrally with the spine strip, or flanges may be formed instead. The outer strip or the flanges may receive an identification card, the former being provided with a window for this purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a binder constructed according to the present invention and illustrating magazines or the like operatively disposed therewithin;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an end edge view of the extrusion forming the binder construction according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of a modified form of the binder construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating one of the anchoring or retaining wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring at this time to FIG. 1, the binder construction shown therein includes the front and back covers 10 and 12 which are joined by a spine strip 14. Joined in turn to the spine strip 14 as hereinafter more particularly described is a bowed anchoring strip 16 and on the outer side of the spine strip 14 is an outer bowed strip 18 provided with a window opening 20 whereby the assembly may receive an identifying card 22 inserted between the spine strip 14 and the outer strip 18 and exposed through the window 20 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In FIG. 2, a modified form of the invention is shown which will be seen to include a front cover 24, a back cover 26 and a spine strip portion 28 joining these covers. As in the case of FIG. 1, the FIG. 2 construction employs the bowed anchoring strip 30 and in place of the outer strip 18 of FIG. I, the FIG. 2 construction employs opposite side flange portions 32 and 34 integrally joined with the spine strip portion 28. In this case, the identifying strip 36 is simply slipped into position as shown with its opposite side edge portions retained between the flanges 32 and 34 and the spine strip 28.

As shown in FIG. 3, the construction of a binder according to this invention lends itself readily to formation by extrusion processes. For this purpose, the material from which the binder is constructed is preferably of a synthetic resinous material and may be extruded in the shape shown in FIG. 3 wherein a flat rectangular sheet is provided containing the spine strip portion 14 centrally thereof and with the inner anchoring strip 16 and the outer strip 18 being formed as shown, the portions of the sheet lying on the opposite sides of the spine strip 14 presenting the cover portions 10 and 12. Score lines 38 and 40 may be provided as shown to provide lines of easy folding so that the construction may be operatively folded into the position shown in FIG. 1. The modification shown in FIG. 2 of course may also be extruded. In any case, the anchoring strip 16 is joined along its opposite side edges to the opposite side edges of the spine strip portion 14 and the outer strip 18 is likewise integrally joined with the spine strip 14 on the opposite side thereof. In the case of the flanges 32 and 34, they, too, are joined to the side of the spine strip 14 opposite the bowed anchoring strip 16 and along the opposite side edges of the spine strip 14.

One or more retaining members 42 as indicated in FIG. 6 may be engaged with the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip 16, the opposite ends of the retaining wire members 42 being provided with hooked portions 44 and 46 for this purpose and it will be seen that the main body portion 48 of the wire is bowed inwardly to assure a certain degree of springiness thereof. In engaging the retaining members 42 with the anchoring strip 16, the binder is simply folded out flat as is shown in FIG. 3 and bent or bowed transversely to allow the hooks 44 and 46 to engage over the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip 16. The main body portions of the retaining members 42 may, as is seen in FIG. 5, simply be inserted in the center fold portion of the sheaf of papers or magazines 50 or the magazine or sheaf of papers may be provided with a loop strip 52 to receive the main body portion 48 of the associated retaining member 42.

FIG. 4 illustrates the manner in which the ends of the hooks 44 and 46 may be recessed between the top and bottom edges of the binder while, at the same time, providing additional reinforcing along the top and bottom edges of the anchoring strip 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip 16 are bent over and sealed upon themselves as indicated by the reference characters 53 and 54 respectively and since the material from which the binder is made is of synthetic resinous nature, this sealing may be easily effected in most cases by a heat sealing operation. Of course, the appropriate portions of the top and bottom edges of the anchoring strip 16 must be severed from their connection with the spine strip 14 to allow this type of assembly.

In any event, the binder according to the present invention is characterized by its extreme sturdiness since the spine strip 14 cooperating with the anchoring strip forms an extremely rigid column effect due to the spacing therebetween and when the outer bowed strip 18 is employed, an additional rigidifying effect is achieved.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the presently illustrative embodiments of the invention are given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A binder for magazines and the like, comprising an intermediate spine strip portion having front and back cover portions extending from the opposite side edges thereof, a bowed anchoring strip having its opposite side edges integrally joined with said spine strip portion adjacent the opposite side edges thereof so as to lie between the cover portions in inwardly spaced relation to said spine strip when the cover portions are folded into operative position, the upper and lower edge portions of said anchoring strip being doubled back and sealed upon themselves to provide reinforced bearing portions, and a second bowed strip, extending from the side of said spine strip portion opposite to the side on which the bowed anchoring strip is located and integrally joined to said spine strip portion adjacent opposite side edges thereof, said second bowed strip being provided with a window opening, said intermediate spine strip portion, front and back cover opening, said intermediate spine strip portion, front and back cover portions, anchoring strip and second bowed strip being a single piece extrusion of synthetic resinous material, and elongated retaining members, each having hooks at opposite ends engaged over the reinforced bearing portions formed on the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip.

2. The binder of claim 1, further characterized by the provision of score lines along the portions where the spine strip joins the cover portions, to facilitate folding of the cover portions.

3. The binder of claim 1 wherein said retaining members are resilient. 

1. A binder for magazines and the like, comprising an intermediate spine strip portion having front and back cover portions extending from the opposite side edges thereof, a bowed anchoring strip having its opposite side edges integrally joined with said spine strip portion adjacent the opposite side edges thereof so as to lie between the cover portions in inwardly spaced relation to said spine strip when the cover portions are folded into operative position, the upper and lower edge portions of said anchoring strip being doubled back and sealed upon themselves to provide reinforced bearing portions, and a second bowed strip, extending from the side of said spine strip portion opposite to the side on which the bowed anchoring strip is located and integrally joined to said spine strip portion adjacent opposite side edges thereof, said second bowed strip being provided with a window opening, said intermediate spine strip portion, front and back cover opening, said intermediate spine strip portion, front and back cover portions, anchoring strip and second bowed strip being a single piece extrusion of synthetic resinous material, and elongated retaining members, each having hooks at opposite ends engaged over the reinforced bearing portions formed on the upper and lower edges of the anchoring strip.
 2. The binder of claim 1, further characterized by the provision of score lines along the portions where the spine strip joins the cover portions, to facilitate folding of the cover portions.
 3. The binder of claim 1 wherein said retaining members are resilient. 